Game boards

ABSTRACT

A laminated bingo board consisting of the following superimposed laminations: a back board; a first spacing board; a game number board; a transparent plastic slide guide sheet; a second spacing board; a window board; and a plurality of substantially flat and flexible number-covering slides. The number board has a vertical knife cut positioned at the side of each number thereon and short horizontal cuts communicating with the ends of the vertical cut, so that the slide of that number may be moved through a space provided by deflecting a portion of the number board adjacent said cuts to a concealed position directly beneath an adjacent number. If the slide of a &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;called&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; number is withdrawn from its concealed position below the adjacent number it will slide over and cover the &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;called&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; number.

United States Patent 1 Moore, Jr.

[54] GAME BOARDS [76] Inventor: James F. Moore, Jr., 1515 W.

Thomas Avenue, Englewood, Colo. 801 10 [22] Filed: Nov. 17, 1971 [21] Appl. No: 199,532

[5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 5/1965 Cates ..273/I36 F UX 4/1972 Moore et al ..273/l36 F FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Sweden ..273/l36 F 1 MayS, 1973 Primary Examiner-Delbert B. Lowe Attorney-R. H. Galbreath [57] ABSTRACT A laminated bingo board consisting of the following superimposed laminations: a back board; a first spacing board; a game number board; a transparent plastic slide guide sheet; a second spacing board; a window board; and a plurality of substantially flat and flexible number-covering slides. The number board has a vertical knife cut positioned at the side of each number thereon and short horizontal cuts communicating with the ends of the vertical cut, so that the slide of that number may be moved through a space provided by deflecting a portion of the number board adjacent said cuts to a concealed position directly beneath an adjacent number. If the slide of a called number is withdrawn from its concealed position below the adjacent number it will slide over and cover the called number.

7 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures GAME BOARDS This invention relates to a game board of the type containing separated, vertical columns of vertically spaced numbers which are to be individually concealed as they are called during the progress of the game of Bingo.

Present bingo boards contain slides which are individually moved sidewardly to cover and conceal the called numbers and such boards require the columns of numbers to be spaced apart sufficiently far to provide space to receive the slides when their respective numbers are in the exposed or uncovered condition.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a bingo board construction in which the slides for each column of numbers will be efficiently and effectively stored, when their respective numbers are uncovered, beneath the numbers of an adjacent column so as to eliminate the storage space usually necessary between the columns so as to provide a board of less width than usually required.

Attempts have been made to accomplish the above object (see Swedish Pat. No. 226,032, 4/69) by sliding the slides onto or away from their respective numbers to a position above or below an adjacent number. These attempts have not been entirely satisfactory since it is difficult to guide the sliders between the laminations and the slides scratch and wear away their respective numbers as they are slid back and forth over the latter.

A further object of this invention is to provide a bingo board structure which will have a smooth, impervious, transparent, stationary, protective sheet positioned between the slide and the adjacent face of its respective number that will prevent wear and soilage of the latter. 1

Other attempts have been made to allow the slides to travel onto and from an inclined numbered bottom in a depression (see copending Ser. No. 876,448, now US. Pat. No. 3,655,196). This also has not been completely satisfactory since the slides tend to coast down the inclined bottoms to partially and accidentally uncover their respective numbers when the board is in use.

A still further object of this invention is to provide invisible holding means which will tend to frictionally retain each slide in the fully covered or uncovered position until the game has been completed.

Other objects and advantages reside in the detail construction of the invention, which is designed for simplicity, economy and efficiency. These will become more apparent from the following description.

In the following detailed description of the invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof. Like numerals refer to like parts in all views of the drawings and throughout the description.

IN THE DRAWINGS:

FIG. 1 is a partially broken away front face view of this improved game board as it would appear in use;

FIG. 2 is a bottom edge view thereof;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are a continuous enlarged fragmentary horizontal section taken on the line 3-4, FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, detail, perspective view of a number-coverin g slide as employed herein;

FIG. 6 is a detail front face view of a spacing board, two of which are employed in the assembly of each of the instant laminated Bingo boards of this invention;

FIG. 7 is a vertical section of the spacing board, taken on the line 7-7, FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a detail front face view of a number board employed herein;

FIG. 9 is a horizontal section through the number board of FIG. 8 taken on the line 9-9, FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a detail front face view of a transparent plastic slide guide sheet to be secured over the number board of FIG. 8 as later described;

FIG. 11 is a detail horizontal section through the plastic slide guide sheet of FIG. 10, taken on the line 11-41, FIG. 10, and

FIG. 12 is a horizontal cross section showing the slide guide sheet of FIG. 10 combined with and attached to the face of the number board of FIG. 8.

This invention comprises a flat, unitary laminated board of the usual Bingo Board shape and size, the back face of which is covered by a plain imperforate back board 10 of suitable relatively stiff material.

A first spacing board 11 is cemented over the entire front face of the back board 10. The first spacing board 11 is provided with a plurality of open, parallel, vertically spaced, horizontally elongated, slide track openings, such as shown at 12 in FIGS. 1 and 6.

A number board 13 having the usual spaced game numbers imprinted thereon in horizontal rows and vertical columns, as shown in FIG. 8, is positioned over the first spacing board 1 l. The number board is die cut and stamped to provide a vertical inclined hinged flap 14 which extends laterally to the side of the board and downwardly from each game number thereon. The flaps 14 are formed by stamping or cutting a vertical knife cut 15 to the side of each game number, each vertical knife cut terminating at its top and bottom in short, laterally extending, horizontal slide knife cuts 16 which outline the inclined flap 14 as shown in FIG. 8. The flaps M are die-formed so that they will normally resiliently incline downwardly and laterally, as shown in FIG. 9, so that when assembly is completed, portions thereof will bear against the back board 10 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

A transparent relatively stiff acetate or other plastic slide guide sheet 17 is attached to and over the midportion of the upper surface of the number board in the position indicated in broken line in FIG. 8. The slide guide sheet 17 is die-cut and stamped similarly to the number board to provide additional vertical knife cuts 18 and horizontal side knife cuts 19, which in final position align with and register with the vertical knife cuts I5 and the side cuts 16 of the number board, as shown in FIG. 12, so as to provide plastic flaps 20 in the slide guide sheet 17 which overlap and are cemented to and completely cover the flaps 14 of the number board 13, as shown in FIG. 12.

For use in playing a game, a flat, flexible, semi-translucent, number-covering slide 21, provided at its right side edge with an upstanding finger grip 22, as shown in detail in FIG. 5, is inserted sidewardly (to the left as illustrated) and downwardly, through each of the vertical knife cuts 15 of the number board 13, on top of and in slidable contact with the plastic flaps 20 of the plastic guide sheet 17, so as to frictionally engage, and

be gripped between, the combined hinge flaps 14 and 20 and the back of the number board 13 beneath an adjacent game number on the latter as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

A second spacing board 23, exactly similar to the first spacing board 11, is positioned over the number board 13 so that the slides 21 project upwardly from, and travel horizontally in, the slide track openings of the second spacing board 23 so as to be guided sidewardly in the plane of the latter board.

A front window board 24, provided with the usual row and columns of Bingo windows 25 is cemented over and to the second spacing board 23 with the finger grips 22 of the slides projecting upwardly through the slide track openings of the second spacing board 23 and upwardly and individually through the windows 25 of the window board 24 as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4.

It will be noted that the slide track openings in the spacing boards 11 and 23 are substantially similar in vertical width to the slides and the windows 25 are vertically narrower than the slide-track openings and narrower than the slides, as shown in FIG. 1. Therefore, when the slides are fully closed, the upper and lower edges of the windows will overlap the upper and lower edges of the slides to maintain the latter in place beneath the windows. It will also be noted from FIGS. 3 and 4 that the slides have a total horizontal length in excess of the horizontal length of said windows so that the left end portion of each slide will permanently remain slidably sandwiched between the number board 13 and the back board as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The slides and the various laminations, while relatively stiff, are sufficiently flexible to assume the positions shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

It is believed that, in view of the above, the operation of the improved game board will be fully understood. Briefly, to cover a called number, it is only necessary to push the finger grip 22 of the slide of that number laterally to the right in FIG. 1 until the gripped finger grip thereof rests against the right side edge of the window of that number. To expose any or all of the numbers, it is only necessary to move the finger grips laterally to the left in FIG. 1 until the finger grips rest flatly against the left side edges of the windows. Since the slides are frictionally gripped between the combined resilient flaps 14 and and the back of the number board, they will frictionally retain their set positions until manually moved.

It is also believed that the use of the present game board can be best described and understood by a study of FIGS. 3 and 4 which illustrate an enlarged horizontal section through the game numbers l, 16, and 42 of the top row of FIGS. 1 and 8.

In the latter horizontal section, it will be noted: that the slide 21 of the game number I has been moved to the left for complete concealment beneath the number board 13 so that the game number I on the number board l3 is completely exposed; that the slide 21 of the game number 16 has been withdrawn from concealment beneath the number board and has been moved to the right, up the inclined flaps 14 and 20, for complete concealment of the game number 16; and that the slide 21 of the game number 42 has been moved to the left beneath the game number l6 on the number board so as to completely expose the game number 42.

It will be noted that since the slides 21 are always in place, they continuously act to urge the combined entering edges of the knife cuts 15 and 18 upwardly as indicated at 26 in FIGS. 3 and 4 and simultaneously urge the combined flaps 14 and 20 downwardly to facilitate frictional movement of the slide. Although not illustrated, side cuts 16 and 19 obviously extend beyond the vertical cuts to permit the displacement shown at 26. If a more free action is desired, it is only necessary to increase the length of the horizontal side knife cuts 16 and 19 to provide wider and more elastic flaps l4 and 20 in the number board 13 and in the plastic guide sheet 17.

It will be noted that since the game numbers are always covered by the stationary plastic guide sheet 17, they will not be erased or damaged by the movement of the slides thereacross and since the slides are freely pocketed in the slide-track openings in the spacing boards 11 and 23, they can be freely slid and cannot be otherwise damaged in use.

It has been found that since no adjustments, replacements or changes can be made after the laminated board has been completely assembled, it is preferable to assemble it in three assembly steps.

The first assembly step is to bond the back board 10, the first spacing board 11 and the number board 13 together.

The second step is to adhere the plastic guide sheet 17 on the top of the number board 13 and insert the slides sidewardly and downwardly in the vertical knife cuts 15 and 18.

The third step is to bond the second spacer board 23, with the window board 24 attached thereto, to the number board 13 to permanently complete the assembly as shown in FIG. 1.

The various laminations can have any suitable desired gauge or thickness. The following thicknesses have been found to be eminently suitable:

Window Board 24 0.030 inches Spacing Boards 11 & 23 0.038 inches Plastic Guide Sheet 17 0.01O inches Number Board 13 0.0l 6 inches Back Board 10 0.038 inches Slide 21 -0.031 inches The knife cuts 15, 16, 18 and 19 have no appreciable width since the sides thereof will return to contact with each other when the cutting knife is withdrawn. They have been illustrated by double lines for the purpose of illustration only.

While a selected form of the invention has been above described, it is understood that mechanical variations and detail substitutions can be made by one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

I. A game board for use in playing bingo comprising:

a. a substantially flat number board having horizontal rows of, and vertical columns of, spaced-apart individual game numbers imprinted on the upper face thereof;

b. a window board covering the front face of said number board and provided with a window registering with each of the game numbers on said number board;

c. a vertical knife cut formed through said number board laterally of each individual game number thereon, and a side cut through the board extending a short distance from each extremity of said vertical cut toward said number to define a flap which is displaced from the plane of the board to incline downwardly and laterally; and

d. a flexible number-covering slide, having a forward leading edge and a rear trailing edge, slidably positioned on top of each individual game number with its rear trailing edge extending downwardly and laterally through the opening provided by displacing said flap to a position below a next-adjacent game number on the number board.

2. A game board for use in playing bingo as described in claim 1 having:

a. a first spacing board covering the rear face of said number board provided with elongated horizontal slide track openings along which the edges of the slides travel as they move laterally.

3. a game board for use in playing bingo as described in claim 2 having:

a. a sheet of transparent plastic covering the front face of said number board and the game numbers thereon to assist in sliding said slides onto and from their respective numbers.

4. A game board for use in playing bingo as described in claim 3 in which:

a. the sheet of transparent plastic also covers the front faces of the inclined flaps of the number board to assist in directing the slides to a position below the next adjacent game number.

5 A game board for use in playing bingo as described in claim 4 having:

a. a second spacing board provided with similar elongated horizontal slide track openings secured to and covering the front face of said plastic sheet to horizontally guide the slides as they move laterally over said plastic sheet 6. A game board for use in playing bingo as described in claim 5 having:

a. a finger grip formed on the forward leading edge of each slide and projecting upwardly therefrom through one of the horizontal track openings of said second spacing board and upwardly through a window registered thereover, each of said finger grips successively contacting the opposite sides of its respective window to limit the lateral travel of its respective slide.

7. A game board for use in playing bingo as described in claim 6 having:

a. a back board secured over the rear face of the first spacing board and slidably retaining the slides in the slide track openings of said first spacing board. 

1. A game board for use in playing bingo comprising: a. a substantially flat number board having horizontal rows of, and vertical columns of, spaced-apart individual game numbers imprinted on the upper face thereof; b. a window board covering the front face of said number board and provided with a window registering with each of the game numbers on said number board; c. a vertical knife cut formed through said number board laterally of each individual game number thereon, and a side cut through the board extending a short distance from each extremity of said vertical cut toward said number to define a flap which is displaced from the plane of the board to incline downwardly and laterally; and d. a flexible number-covering slide, having a forward leading edge and a rear trailing edge, slidably positioned on top of each individual game number with its rear trailing edge extending downwardly and laterally through the opening provided by displacing said flap to a position below a next-adjacent game number on the number board.
 2. A game board for use in playing bingo as described in claim 1 having: a. a first spacing board covering the rear face of said number board provided with elongated horizontal slide track openings along which the edges of the slides travel as they move laterally.
 3. a game board for use in playing bingo as described in claim 2 having: a. a sheet of transparent plastic covering the front face of said number board and the game numbers thereon to assist in sliding said slides onto and from their respective numbers.
 4. A game board for use in playing bingo as described in claim 3 in which: a. the sheet of transparent plastic also covers the front faces of the inclined flaps of the number board to assist in directing the slides to a position below the next adjacent game number.
 5. A game board for use in playing bingo as described in claim 4 having: a. a second spacing board provided with similar elongated horizontal slide track openings secured to and covering the front face of said plastic sheet to horizontally guide the slides As they move laterally over said plastic sheet.
 6. A game board for use in playing bingo as described in claim 5 having: a. a finger grip formed on the forward leading edge of each slide and projecting upwardly therefrom through one of the horizontal track openings of said second spacing board and upwardly through a window registered thereover, each of said finger grips successively contacting the opposite sides of its respective window to limit the lateral travel of its respective slide.
 7. A game board for use in playing bingo as described in claim 6 having: a. a back board secured over the rear face of the first spacing board and slidably retaining the slides in the slide track openings of said first spacing board. 